Mike Paradinas' trailblazing electronic label
Planet Mu has typically used compilations to sum up the state of the label at the time, with 2001's Cosmic Forces of Mu and 2006's Sacred Symbols of Mu focusing heavily on breakcore and IDM, 2007's 10 Tons Heavy documenting the label's crucial contributions to the development of dubstep, and both Bangs & Works volumes introducing Chicago's exhilarating juke/footwork scene to the world. Following a few low-key promo label samplers, µ20 is
Planet Mu's first large-scale compilation in a long time, summing up its entire 20-year history in one mammoth compendium.
Paradinas scoured his archives for unreleased treasures, representing nearly every style of music the label has ever released. The first two discs primarily center around the label's 2010s lineup, including cuts from footwork producers such as
Jlin and
Traxman, as well as experimental techno artists such as
Ekoplekz and
John T. Gast.
Venetian Snares, one of the label's most celebrated artists, is represented by a typically bracing, demonic eight-minute epic called "Meeting a Buddha." A few flashbacks to the label's mid-2000s era are also here, with a previously unreleased dubplate mix of jungle pioneer Remarc's brilliant "Thunderclap" and proto-dubstep tracks from
Milanese and
Vex'd. Italian producer
Herva's intriguing track "Kila" is a squirming, slithering beast, with skipping beats and grimy distorted noises joined by a downright unsettling whispering/groaning voice. Other artists such as
Konx-Om-Pax and
Machinedrum combine throwback jungle breaks and rave synths while still sounding fresh and modern. The compilation's deluxe limited edition contains a book detailing the label's history, as well as an additional disc delving deeper into the label's '90s/2000s lineup, unearthing works by long-dormant names such as
Datach'i and
Tim Tetlow, and providing a treat for the label's longtime devotees. Glitches, breaks, and abstract sounds populate the disc, with Hrvåtski,
Ed Lawes, and
Leafcutter John representing the label's most experimental side, and
Hellfish bringing the hardcore/gabber. A few twinkling, shining tunes come from the likes of Frost Jockey (one of
Mike Paradinas' lesser-known alter egos) and
Mrs. Jynx, and
the Gasman turns in a surprisingly bright, danceable track. The album ends by bringing everything back to the old-school rave days with a
2 Unlimited-sampling track by plunderphonic breakcore genius
Shitmat (Henry Collins), recorded a few years before he embarked on an ambitious project during which he remixed every U.K. number one pop hit, and subsequently retired his alias. µ20 is a massive undertaking, and it sums up the visionary label's extensive history as well as any fan could hope for. ~ Paul Simpson